I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20
There once was an old miser who hid all his gold at the foot of a tree. Each week he would dig it up and gloat over it. One day a robber happened to notice what the old miser was doing. When the miser was done, the robber went to the tree, dug up the gold and took all of it.
The next time the miser went to the tree, he found that all his gold was gone. He cried out to all the neighbors, "Has anyone seen my gold? Did any of you take my gold?"
One neighbor spoke up, "Did you ever take any of your gold out?" Distraught, the old miser replied, "Nay, I only looked at it." The neighbor responded, "Well,
why don't you just stare at the hole instead; it will do you just as much good!"
This neighbor made a very good point, because wealth unused might as well not exist.
The same is true for us, if we say we have Christ Jesus in our hearts, but then fail to live completely for Him, we might as well not claim "Christianity!"
I am now building upon the one and only true foundation, which is Jesus Christ,
there is no other foundation. I have been crucified with Christ and I am dead to
self! I no longer live, for it is Christ Jesus who lives in and through me!
The following are all attributes, born out of Jesus' love in and for me, that I wish to enlarge within myself as I walk daily in the Spirit of God; In Him, I am becoming a light in this world. (Matthew 5:16) In Him, I am learning to treat others the same way I wish to be treated. (Matthew 7:12) In Him, I am seeking to love my enemies. (Matthew 5:43-44) In my Lord, I am Loving God and My Neighbors. (Matthew 22:37-40) And, most importantly, In my Lord, Jesus, I am becoming a Servant to All. (Mark 10:45)
Christianity is not meant to be the bandwagon that will make us feel good about ourselves. Christianity is not meant to appease our fears, 'just in case there is a hell.' Christianity is not meant to be the 'in thing' to do or be.
No, Christianity is losing and dying to ourselves. It is forsaking the things I want and desire, so that I can be all of Jesus Christ who is now living in me!
We can not live like the world, nor should we desire the worldly life, we need to be walking daily in the Spirit of God. When we say we are "Christians," we need to be one hundred fifty percent, sold out to Jesus Christ.
We make a mockery out of all that was done on the cross for our sins, when we say we are Christians (or Christ Like) and yet live like we are the devil's best friend!
It is no wonder that the world does not respect Christianity and it is no wonder that Christianity has lost the power to make a positive impact on those who are not Christians.
As Christians we all have "wealth unused!" A wealth that could transform not only our lives but the lives of everyone in our world and beyond.
The question to ask is: Are we "Crucified with Christ" OR are we "Custom fitting Christ?"
There once was an old miser who hid all his gold at the foot of a tree. Each week he would dig it up and gloat over it. One day a robber happened to notice what the old miser was doing. When the miser was done, the robber went to the tree, dug up the gold and took all of it.
The next time the miser went to the tree, he found that all his gold was gone. He cried out to all the neighbors, "Has anyone seen my gold? Did any of you take my gold?"
One neighbor spoke up, "Did you ever take any of your gold out?" Distraught, the old miser replied, "Nay, I only looked at it." The neighbor responded, "Well,
why don't you just stare at the hole instead; it will do you just as much good!"
This neighbor made a very good point, because wealth unused might as well not exist.
The same is true for us, if we say we have Christ Jesus in our hearts, but then fail to live completely for Him, we might as well not claim "Christianity!"
I am now building upon the one and only true foundation, which is Jesus Christ,
there is no other foundation. I have been crucified with Christ and I am dead to
self! I no longer live, for it is Christ Jesus who lives in and through me!
The following are all attributes, born out of Jesus' love in and for me, that I wish to enlarge within myself as I walk daily in the Spirit of God; In Him, I am becoming a light in this world. (Matthew 5:16) In Him, I am learning to treat others the same way I wish to be treated. (Matthew 7:12) In Him, I am seeking to love my enemies. (Matthew 5:43-44) In my Lord, I am Loving God and My Neighbors. (Matthew 22:37-40) And, most importantly, In my Lord, Jesus, I am becoming a Servant to All. (Mark 10:45)
Christianity is not meant to be the bandwagon that will make us feel good about ourselves. Christianity is not meant to appease our fears, 'just in case there is a hell.' Christianity is not meant to be the 'in thing' to do or be.
No, Christianity is losing and dying to ourselves. It is forsaking the things I want and desire, so that I can be all of Jesus Christ who is now living in me!
We can not live like the world, nor should we desire the worldly life, we need to be walking daily in the Spirit of God. When we say we are "Christians," we need to be one hundred fifty percent, sold out to Jesus Christ.
We make a mockery out of all that was done on the cross for our sins, when we say we are Christians (or Christ Like) and yet live like we are the devil's best friend!
It is no wonder that the world does not respect Christianity and it is no wonder that Christianity has lost the power to make a positive impact on those who are not Christians.
As Christians we all have "wealth unused!" A wealth that could transform not only our lives but the lives of everyone in our world and beyond.
The question to ask is: Are we "Crucified with Christ" OR are we "Custom fitting Christ?"
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